A decision that jeopardizes her brother and their guests when a killer dressed like Santa opens fire at their annual Christmas Eve party. Lincoln Smith spent his life guarding his country, his clients, and his heart. He denied himself everything else – including Serra. He only wants a glimpse of her at the party. Nothing more. But when Santa tries to kill the only woman he ever loved, Lincoln does what he was trained to do. Seeking refuge in his cabin in the town of Winter, Lincoln vows to protect Serra even if it means dropping the shield around his heart. She had never wanted to see him again, but Serra can’t escape her true feelings. Just as passion finds a new path the killer finds them. With only hours to spare, Lincoln must forgive himself for past mistakes or he and Serra will lose their last chance for survival – and love.

    He's a banker by day, struggling parent by night but when a tragic turn of events gives Dennis a 30 day death sentence, he discovers his accident comes with super-powers. And as the weeks in Dennis' life tick down, he sets out to leave a mark one way or the other even if he has to go through Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers to do it. Collecting: Heroic Age: One Month to Live #1-5

    With Batman crippled by his fiercest foe, a new hero tries to fill his shoes in protecting Gotham City. But his methods are brutal and dangerous, and the future of Gotham City is uncertain. In June 2005, Batman Begins will be released in movie theatres, starring Christian Bale and featuring Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, and Liam Neeson. Interest in the Batman franchise will surge, with a huge marketing campaign and the star power casting.

    No one will be able to withstand his rage, as the Hulk takes on nearly the entire Marvel Universe in his quest for justice!

    The private, sexy bar owner was content in his life and excited to move forward with his new business project. There was just one problem--he'd never been able to forget about that kiss...or about her. For her, everything had fallen apart...Shelby Kellan was once confident in knowing who she was and what she wanted. But recent events caused the gorgeous, blue-eyed beauty to barely recognize the woman she saw when she looked in the mirror. She knew she needed a fresh start. Could she do it with his kiss still lingering on her lips?Eighteen months ago, Levi and Shelby shared the perfect kiss. Now, he wanted more, but would she be able to give that to him after already losing so much?Secret KissAdam Dorsey was used to living a life of deceit and falsehood both professionally and personally. The former CIA operative—with an extremely high IQ—was ready for a quieter, more authentic life. Enter Jane, a gorgeous and adorable hazel eyed beauty that complicated his plan. No matter what she made him feel, he knew that he had to stay away from her for fear of damaging more than just her innocence…Jane Marshall always believed in the power of positive thinking and all that could create. She felt accomplished in her career, and was blessed with great friends and family. And yet, she questioned whether or not there existed a man that would be able to unleash and explore her inexperienced heart…until she laid eyes on Adam.Will Adam be able to let go of his past and accept Jane for the genuine soul she truly is? Will Jane be able to navigate through never before had feelings? Are there some things that are even beyond the control of two highly intelligent people? Discover the truth in …Secret KissMagic KissHe’d lost his best friend…Logan Dorsey left the military and his job as an undercover detective, but he still couldn’t shake the nightmares that haunted him. The only thing that had ever silenced the horrors for the chiseled former Marine was the one woman that was untouchable for so many reason…She’d lost her husband…Emma Locke wrote romantic stories for a living despite the fact that her happily-ever-after had been taken away years ago. The gorgeous, blue-eyed, twenty-six year old widow and single mom had nothing in her life to connect her with the love and heat she needed to write about. Nothing to inspire that kind of passion...except the one man that was off limits.They say time heals all wounds, but can it also be enough to grow new love?Lucky KissLucas “Lucky” Dorsey was at the top of his game in the world of MMA, and his nickname…well, let’s just say the ladies couldn’t get enough of the tattooed bad boy. But then…he met her…As the first female firefighter in the Hope Falls Fire Department, Deanna Bishop was focused on making a fresh start in her new town. She was ready to put out fires with the rest of the boys, but the beauty with emerald eyes was never ready for the fire he’d started in her heart… She brought him back to life, and he wanted more. He filled her with passion, and she wanted to run. Will Deanna be able to open her heart and let someone fight for her? Will Lucky be able to prove that a Lucky Kiss could lead to more than just that…Christmas Wish - NovellaBright lights…Fame…Wealth…Kyle Austen Reed had it all, and his devilishly handsome good looks were known to steal hearts on and off the screen…Fired…Evicted…Caring for a special needs child…Aurora Rose&rsq

    Pages: 48. Chapters: Altheda, Altheda's potion, Altheda's wand, Amata, Amata's lover, Antioch Peverell, Antioch Peverell's first wand, Antioch Peverell's killer, Asha, Babbitty, Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump, Brigade of Witch-Hunters, Cadmus Peverell, Cadmus Peverell's girlfriend, Cadmus Peverell's wand, Captain of the Brigade of Witch-Hunters, Charlatan, Cloak of Invisibility, Crystal casket, Death, Elder Wand, Enchanted garden, Evil sorcerer, Fountain, Gold statue of Babbitty, Grumble the Grubby Goat, Hairy Heart, Ignotus Peverell, Ignotus Peverell's son, Ignotus Peverell's wand, King, Kinsfolk, Maiden, Never-Ending Hill, Old man's donkey, Old man's family, Old man, Peasant woman's granddaughter, Peasant woman, Poisonous toadstool, Poultice for warts, Resurrection Stone, Sabre, Silver chalice, Sir Luckless, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Hopping Pot, The Tale of the Three Brothers, The Warlock's Hairy Heart, The Warlock's friends, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, Warlock, Wizard's father, Wizard, Young woman's child, Young woman. Excerpt: Altheda was one of the three female protagonists in The Fountain of Fair Fortune, written by Beedle the Bard. Altheda was a witch who came to the Fountain in the hope of finding relief from poverty and despair, as her home, money, and wand had all been stolen by a Dark Wizard. After completing three trials, Altheda arrived at the Fountain with her companions Asha, Amata, and Sir Luckless. Before the four could decide who would get to bathe in the Fountain, however, Asha collapsed from exhaustion. Altheda quickly gathered some of the herbs that grew around the Fountain and prepared a potion for Asha. The potion not only saved Asha's life, but also cured her of the malady she suffered, which she had believed only the Fountain could heal. In curing Asha's sickness, Altheda realized that she had the means to earn a living, and thus had no need to...

    When billionaire mogul James Preston hires an escort as a date for his brother’s wedding, he knows he’s taking a risk. One thing he won’t be taking? The escort’s clothes off. He just wants a date—not a girlfriend. Not a relationship. No strings. No ties. No games. No sex. He has his reasons. He lost someone he loved, and isn’t interested in trying again. Too many opportunities for mistakes or worse, heartbreak. Audrey Reynolds became a high-end escort to keep her brother in his expensive group home. James Preston is the client of her dreams—he’s offering to pay her more money for two weeks than she’s ever made before. But James is... difficult. He’s gorgeous, troubled and all too human for Audrey's business-like tastes. Determined to complete her assignment and collect the money, Audrey tries to play by James’s rules. But before she knows what's happening, he's rewriting the contract. When Audrey ends up in James’s bed, he realizes that she’s everything he’s wanted… and everything he’s been running from. Escorting the Actress He was my party-boy billionaire stepbrother... Now he's my disinherited, sexy escort? FML! Kyle: She was my geeky, brace-faced stepsister. Now she's a stunning Hollywood actress. And she just became a client at the upscale escort agency where I work. Things might finally be looking up. Lowell: I had a PR disaster on my hands. I needed a pretend boyfriend--so I called the escort service. But then stepbrother bad boy showed up. Now I'm all sorts of screwed. Or wishing I was. Wait--I take that back! I take it back! Kyle: My powerful father will do anything to keep me away from Lowell, including dangling my fortune in front of me. But I just might be more interested in what my sexy ex-stepsister has to offer. That is, if I can convince her to give it to me. Escorting the Player Win or Lose... Winning is important but this is championship quarterback Chase Layne's last chance for glory. All he wants for his final season is to win the Superbowl. But dreams of ending his career on a high will be sacked if his soon to be ex-wife has her way. She and her new boyfriend have plans to ruin Chase in a media smear, stealing everything he's worked to achieve. He just has to show the press he's still in control and on top of his game, in business and his private life. It's How You Play the Game... Avery Banks knows all about being played. Life has done that to her for years now and she's tired of being the loser. All she needs is a big score...a job paying enough money to allow her stop turning tricks for good and to get her sister into rehab. Then it happens! She gets the dream job pretending to be a star football player's girlfriend. All she has to do is make him look good, help him keep up his All American Boy image for the next few weeks. Easy, right? Except her sister sees an even bigger payoff: Blackmailing Chase. As Chase and Avery play offense to everyone trying to bring them down, Avery must also face the hard truth: she's made the ultimate rookie mistake...falling in love with a client. Escorting the Groom TO HAVE AND TO HOLD… Ruthless technology billionaire Lucas Ford has run out of time. The rules of his trust make it clear: be married by thirty-five and stay married for one year. Otherwise, bye-bye inheritance—and the family fortune will be inherited by his sister, who might very well blow it on Botox and funding her sorority alma mater.

    She and her two younger sisters gather at his side, praying he’ll live… At a time like this, falling in love is the last thing on Valerie’s mind. And with Dr. Colby Winston, of all people! He’s David’s heart surgeon, a renowned specialist who enjoys small-town living, while Valerie is a high-powered businesswoman who prefers city life. They’re complete opposites in every way. Yet David keeps insisting she and Colby are a perfect couple. Meanwhile, Stephanie has other worries besides her father’s health. She fled Orchard Valley three years earlier, after her humiliating rejection by local journalist Charles Tomaselli. Now she’s home, and it’s not long before they begin reliving past battles—and renewing old feelings. He was the reason she left. This time, will he give her a reason to stay? David seems to think so… Norah is feeling a bit unneeded these days. Her father is recovering, and her sisters are busy planning their weddings. But then a cantankerous Texan named Rowdy Cassidy crashes his small plane in Orchard Valley. The same Rowdy Cassidy who’d been Valerie’s boss…and who’d demanded Valerie marry him. Now he’s Norah’s patient, and in all her nursing experience she’s never encountered a more difficult man. Or a more irresistible one! Except…is he still in love with her sister?When Norah’s friend Sherry Waterman leaves Orchard Valley, Oregon, for Pepper, Texas, she’s definitely not in the mood for Lone Star Lovin’. But if anyone can change her mind, it’s Cody Bailman—a hardworking, good-looking rancher. Not only that, Cody has a twelve-year-old daughter who thinks Sherry’s “just perfect for Dad!”

    Dracula has haunted the Marvel Age of Comics for years - now, see his modern misdeeds from Night One! When the Prince of Darkness rises, longtime enemies are ready for a fight - and so is one of his own descendants! Undead armies, time travel, deathbed voodoo, and more! Featuring the first appearance of multi-media marvel Blade: Vampire Hunter! Collects Tomb of Dracula #1-12.

    Book 7: BISHOP’S QUEEN A reality star with an obsessive stalker finds herself under the protection of an ex-boyfriend from a tragic past who is her opposite in every way.Book 8: LOCKE AND KEY A military operative must rescue a journalist whom he blames for the murder of his teammates years ago.Book 9: JAX A former Navy SEAL and the daughter of a notorious motorcycle gangster partner to dismantle a drug cartel's partnership with the CIA.Each love story can be read as an action-packed, steamy standalone romance novel. No cliffhangers!

    Four electrifying suspense novels featuring brilliant criminalist and quadriplegic Lincoln Rhyme: The Vanished Man, The Twelfth Card, The Cold Moon and The Broken Window.

    Coming to, he realizes he’s hypothermic—shivering cold—trapped inside a stasis tube, shrouded in darkness. Escaping his capsule, he lights a lantern, only to discover the locker containing his heating supplies is empty. Freezing to death now, he reflects on the last memory of his pregnant wife, beside him still, suspended in a tube. Just as Connor slips out of consciousness, two strangers arrive...Another gripping, wholly absorbing chapter of the bestselling Wayward Pines series, Jordan Crouch’s Exit Vertigo explores the dangerous netherworld existence of caretakers who emerge from stasis every two decades to ensure the facility that houses all that remains of mankind continues to function. While others hibernate, Connor and a select team of maintenance workers stumble through the Ark’s darkened hallways, racing against time in search for a clue to an apocalypse no one can remember.

    Can these two hard-case-heroes stop trying to kill each other long enough to stop the real bad guys? It's the Punisher vs. Wolverine!

    but what happens when they run out of humans to eat?!? Follow their search for more food... and witness the arrival of the Silver Surfer!

    Inspired by his animated adventures on the Kids' WB!, this collection of fast-paced adventures features Superman's battles with Metallo, Brainiac, and Livewire, as well as the ever-present menace of Lex Luthor.